1. Boston Red Sox
2. Philadelphia Phillies
3. San Francisco Giants
4. New York Yankees
5. Atlanta Braves
6. Minnesota Twins
7. Cincinnati Reds
8. Texas Rangers
9. Colorado Rockies
10. Detroit Tigers
11. Chicago White Sox
12. Florida Marlins
13. Milwaukee Brewers
14. St. Louis Cardinals
15. Oakland A's
16. Tampa Bay Rays
17. Los Angeles Angels
18. Los Angeles Dodgers
19. San Diego Padres
20. Baltimore Orioles
21. Chicago Cubs
22. Cleveland Indians
23. Toronto Blue Jays
24. Washington Nationals
25. Arizona Diamondbacks
26. Houston Astros
27. New York Mets
28. Pittsburgh Pirates
29. Seattle Mariners
30. Kansas City Royals
Hope its a great season!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Giants 2011
As tradition on my blog I will make my guesses as how the main players on the Giants will end up doing. Never a perfect science this is just showing my love for my team. Last year I thought the Giants would make the playoffs as the wild card, they ended up winning the whole fucking thing. Amazing! (Here our my predictions from 2010)
STARTING FIELDERS
C-Buster Posey - Last season the Giants started out with Bengie Molina at catcher, I was hoping the Giants would call up Posey and when they finally did it changed the team for the better. Posey went on to get Rookie of the Year and most importantly helped the team win its first World Series title. Good job rookie, no matter what else you do you have succeeded.
Last year I predicted: N/A
He did: .305 / 18 hr / 67 rbi
2011 Prediction: .300 / 24 hr / 88 rbi
1B - Aubrey Huff - Huff had a great season last year, far exceeding anything I would think he could do. He adds veteran leadership and is a great club house guy. I was so happy he was on our team at that the Giants signed him for more years. I also think he is valuable since he can play in the OF, be on the lookout for Brandon Belt he could move Huff to the OF or be used if injures occur.
Last year I predicted: 262/ 15 hr/ 79 rbi
He did: .290 / 26 hr / 86 rbi
2011 prediction : .280 / 23 hr / 81 rbi
2B - Freddy Sanchez - Sanchez missed some of the season with various injuries but he was a vital part of the team with his glove and ability to get on base. He doesn't put up huge numbers be he is a guy you need on your team.
Last year I predicted: .297 / 7 hr / 75 rbi
He did: .295 / 7 hr / 47 rbi
2011 prediction: .302 / 6 hr / 53 rbi
SS - Miguel Tejada - Last season Juan Uribe and Edgar Renteria split SS duties, both have gone on to different teams. The team decided to get a player with similar abilities and signed Tejada, who was having a great second half surge with the Padres.
Last year I predicted: N/A
He did: .269 / 15 hr / 75 rbi
2011 prediction: .276 / 12 hr / 70 rbi
3B - Pablo Sandoval - Pablo was the Giants expected to have the best 2010 season, but he had problems with his swing as well as weight issues. He still put up not terrible numbers but I think the organization expected more. He has lost 40 lbs and looks to be back to his old self.
Last year I predicted: .319 / 26 hr / 97 rbi
He did: .268 / 13 hr / 63 rbi
2011 prediction: .306 / 20 hr / 82 rbi
OF - Cody Ross - I was glad Giants got Ross, he can always hit and was a monster in the playoffs against the Phillies and Braves. He is all around good in everything but not exceptional. I think having him for an entire year will be helpful to the team.
Last year I predicted: N/A
He did: .269 / 14 hr / 65 rbi
2011 prediction: .270 / 18 hr / 67 rbi
OF - Andres Torres - Last season Torres went from back up to full time starter and had an amazing season. It will be hard for him to repeat the success he had in 2010 but he is a hard worker and still has much left in those legs.
Last year I predicted: N/A
He did: .268/ 16 hr/ 63 rbi / 26 sb
2011 prediction: .275 / 11 hr / 55 rbi / 22 sb
STARTING ROTATION
Tim Lincecum - Lincecum again proved to be the ace of the Giants, leading the team to a playoff spot. He had some struggles but was able to work his way out of them and was very hot going into the playoffs. I look for more of the same from the spunky ace.
Last year I predicted: 17-6/ ERA 2.57/ 259 K's
He did: 16-10 / 3.43 era / 231 k's
2011 prediction: 16-6 / 2.76 / 240 k's
Matt Cain - Cain always puts up great numbers in most places but wins, he seems to have bad luck when it comes to that. Besides that Cain was an all-star and finally got the recognition he deserved. He was stellar in the playoffs, and his a great #2 starter.
Last year I predicted: 15-9 / 3.20/ 175 K's
He did: 13-11 / 3.14 / 177 k's
2011 prediction: 13-10 / 3.18 / 180 k's
Jonathon Sanchez - Sanchez finally was able to control his stuff and a monster 2010 season for the Giants. Considering he is a number #3 starter he is very impressive. The only thing keeping Sanchez back is himself, he could be even better.
Last year I predicted: 12-10 / 4.08 / 183 K's
He did: 13-9 / 3.07 / 205 k's
2011 prediction: 12-10 / 3.85 / 192 k's
Madison Bumgarner - I was happy to Bumgarner get the call up and I had a feeling he would be good once called up, and the rookie hurler did not disappoint. He adds another arm to a rotation that is strong as is.
Last year I predicted: N/A
He did: 7-6 / 3.00 era / 86 k's
2011 prediction: 14-9 / 3.34 era / 160 k's
Barry Zito - Say what you like about he overpaid veteran but at least he makes his starts. Zito has continues to be unspectacular in a Giants uniform. He showed early signs of life last season early on but it sort of faded away at the end. Still for a #5 they could do worse.
Last year I predicted: 11-12 / 4.21 / 142 K's
He did: 9-14 / 4.15 / 150 k's
2011 prediction: 10-15 / 4.45 / 152 k's
RELIEF
Bullpen - Brian Wilson became a dominant closer and household name in 2010, he is back along with Sergio Romo, Santiago Casilla, and Jeremy Affeldt. Late season additions Javier Lopez and Ramon Ramirez will now be with the team for a whole season. I feel the bullpen should be just as good as last season.
Bench - Giants are very deep this season on the bench. Big free agent signing Mark DeRosa is back and healthy, they have Pat Burell, Nate Schierholtz, and Aaron Rowand for back up OF's. Mike Fontenot can play almost all infield spots and Brandon Belt should get some at bats as a can't miss prospect. This team is made to keep going if someone goes out with an injury (which could easily happen on a veteran team).
OVERALL
The Giants continues to move forward from last season. They have some up and coming young players in Posey, Sandoval, Bumgarner, and Belt mixed with some nice veterans who far exceeded anything expected of them (Torres, Huff, Uribe). I cannot see them being worse off from last year with important additions playing full time. I think they will match last seasons record and make the playoffs. As far as repeating, well anything is possible!
STARTING FIELDERS
C-Buster Posey - Last season the Giants started out with Bengie Molina at catcher, I was hoping the Giants would call up Posey and when they finally did it changed the team for the better. Posey went on to get Rookie of the Year and most importantly helped the team win its first World Series title. Good job rookie, no matter what else you do you have succeeded.
Last year I predicted: N/A
He did: .305 / 18 hr / 67 rbi
2011 Prediction: .300 / 24 hr / 88 rbi
1B - Aubrey Huff - Huff had a great season last year, far exceeding anything I would think he could do. He adds veteran leadership and is a great club house guy. I was so happy he was on our team at that the Giants signed him for more years. I also think he is valuable since he can play in the OF, be on the lookout for Brandon Belt he could move Huff to the OF or be used if injures occur.
Last year I predicted: 262/ 15 hr/ 79 rbi
He did: .290 / 26 hr / 86 rbi
2011 prediction : .280 / 23 hr / 81 rbi
2B - Freddy Sanchez - Sanchez missed some of the season with various injuries but he was a vital part of the team with his glove and ability to get on base. He doesn't put up huge numbers be he is a guy you need on your team.
Last year I predicted: .297 / 7 hr / 75 rbi
He did: .295 / 7 hr / 47 rbi
2011 prediction: .302 / 6 hr / 53 rbi
SS - Miguel Tejada - Last season Juan Uribe and Edgar Renteria split SS duties, both have gone on to different teams. The team decided to get a player with similar abilities and signed Tejada, who was having a great second half surge with the Padres.
Last year I predicted: N/A
He did: .269 / 15 hr / 75 rbi
2011 prediction: .276 / 12 hr / 70 rbi
3B - Pablo Sandoval - Pablo was the Giants expected to have the best 2010 season, but he had problems with his swing as well as weight issues. He still put up not terrible numbers but I think the organization expected more. He has lost 40 lbs and looks to be back to his old self.
Last year I predicted: .319 / 26 hr / 97 rbi
He did: .268 / 13 hr / 63 rbi
2011 prediction: .306 / 20 hr / 82 rbi
OF - Cody Ross - I was glad Giants got Ross, he can always hit and was a monster in the playoffs against the Phillies and Braves. He is all around good in everything but not exceptional. I think having him for an entire year will be helpful to the team.
Last year I predicted: N/A
He did: .269 / 14 hr / 65 rbi
2011 prediction: .270 / 18 hr / 67 rbi
OF - Andres Torres - Last season Torres went from back up to full time starter and had an amazing season. It will be hard for him to repeat the success he had in 2010 but he is a hard worker and still has much left in those legs.
Last year I predicted: N/A
He did: .268/ 16 hr/ 63 rbi / 26 sb
2011 prediction: .275 / 11 hr / 55 rbi / 22 sb
STARTING ROTATION
Tim Lincecum - Lincecum again proved to be the ace of the Giants, leading the team to a playoff spot. He had some struggles but was able to work his way out of them and was very hot going into the playoffs. I look for more of the same from the spunky ace.
Last year I predicted: 17-6/ ERA 2.57/ 259 K's
He did: 16-10 / 3.43 era / 231 k's
2011 prediction: 16-6 / 2.76 / 240 k's
Matt Cain - Cain always puts up great numbers in most places but wins, he seems to have bad luck when it comes to that. Besides that Cain was an all-star and finally got the recognition he deserved. He was stellar in the playoffs, and his a great #2 starter.
Last year I predicted: 15-9 / 3.20/ 175 K's
He did: 13-11 / 3.14 / 177 k's
2011 prediction: 13-10 / 3.18 / 180 k's
Jonathon Sanchez - Sanchez finally was able to control his stuff and a monster 2010 season for the Giants. Considering he is a number #3 starter he is very impressive. The only thing keeping Sanchez back is himself, he could be even better.
Last year I predicted: 12-10 / 4.08 / 183 K's
He did: 13-9 / 3.07 / 205 k's
2011 prediction: 12-10 / 3.85 / 192 k's
Madison Bumgarner - I was happy to Bumgarner get the call up and I had a feeling he would be good once called up, and the rookie hurler did not disappoint. He adds another arm to a rotation that is strong as is.
Last year I predicted: N/A
He did: 7-6 / 3.00 era / 86 k's
2011 prediction: 14-9 / 3.34 era / 160 k's
Barry Zito - Say what you like about he overpaid veteran but at least he makes his starts. Zito has continues to be unspectacular in a Giants uniform. He showed early signs of life last season early on but it sort of faded away at the end. Still for a #5 they could do worse.
Last year I predicted: 11-12 / 4.21 / 142 K's
He did: 9-14 / 4.15 / 150 k's
2011 prediction: 10-15 / 4.45 / 152 k's
RELIEF
Bullpen - Brian Wilson became a dominant closer and household name in 2010, he is back along with Sergio Romo, Santiago Casilla, and Jeremy Affeldt. Late season additions Javier Lopez and Ramon Ramirez will now be with the team for a whole season. I feel the bullpen should be just as good as last season.
Bench - Giants are very deep this season on the bench. Big free agent signing Mark DeRosa is back and healthy, they have Pat Burell, Nate Schierholtz, and Aaron Rowand for back up OF's. Mike Fontenot can play almost all infield spots and Brandon Belt should get some at bats as a can't miss prospect. This team is made to keep going if someone goes out with an injury (which could easily happen on a veteran team).
OVERALL
The Giants continues to move forward from last season. They have some up and coming young players in Posey, Sandoval, Bumgarner, and Belt mixed with some nice veterans who far exceeded anything expected of them (Torres, Huff, Uribe). I cannot see them being worse off from last year with important additions playing full time. I think they will match last seasons record and make the playoffs. As far as repeating, well anything is possible!
Monday, March 21, 2011
MLB 2011 Predictions
Hope 2011 will be as fun as last year.. last season taught me that anyone can win!
MLB 2011 Predictions:
AL EAST
Boston Red Sox 96-66
New York Yankees 90-72*
Tampa Bay Rays 85-77
Baltimore Orioles 79-83
Toronto Blue Jays 72-90
AL CENTRAL
Minnesota Twins 92-70
Detroit Tigers 89-73
Chicago White Sox 87-75
Cleveland Indians 75-87
Kansas City Royals 69-93
AL WEST
Texas Rangers 89-73
Oakland A's 87-75
Los Angeles Angels 82-80
Seattle Mariners 63-99
NL EAST
Philadelphia Phillies 95-67
Atlanta Braves 92-70*
Florida Marlins 82-80
Washington Nationals 75-87
New York Mets 71-91
NL CENTRAL
Cincinnati Reds 90-72
St. Louis Cardinals 88-74
Milwaukee Brewers 87-75
Chicago Cubs 76-86
Houston Astros 73-89
Pittsburgh Pirates 62-100
NL WEST
San Francisco Giants 92-70
Colorado Rockies 90-72
San Diego Padres 83-79
Los Angeles Dodgers 81-81
Arizona Diamondbacks 72-90
* - Wild Card
PLAYOFFS
AMERICAN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES:
Boston over Texas (3-1)
Minnesota over New York (3-2)
NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISON SERIES:
Philadelphia over Cincinnati (3-1)
Atlanta over San Francisco (3-2)
AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES:
Boston over Minnesota (4-1)
Atlanta over Philadelphia (4-3)
WORLD SERIES:
Atlanta over Boston (4-2)
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Hunter Prey
Every once in a while I see a movie and think, wow that was a good movie and I feel that more people should know about it. Recently I saw a movie I think describes that, it is called Hunter Prey. I was at my friend Dennis' house (check his awesome blog) and he said this movie is sort an homage to 70's sci-fi, but what sold me is that it was directed by Sandy Collora, the director who put together Batman: Dead End some years back. If you have yet to see the video please watch it here before you go on with reading the rest of this blog:
According to imdb.com, the video was made in 2003 which dates it two years before Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins was released. When I first saw it I thought, wow this is a well made short and I wished that the Batman movies would be more like this short. Not meaning have Aliens and Predators (which would be cool) but to have the costumes and fighting come off as gritty and realistic. Batman: Dead End also lived out a fantasy for many of us who always wanted to see Batman face off against the Predators, as he had done in many comics before hand.
The Joker was also dead on, the late Andrew Koeing (Boner from Growing Pains) played The Joker with an insanity that I loved, he was playing more of the Joker from the actual comic books. His acting was spot on, sadly Koeing committed suicide some years later. I believe if Batman: Dead End was released today, it would spread much faster then in 2003. It would be all over Facebook and Twitter where in 2003 we had to call up a friend or email them the link somehow, and without You Tube to help us.
I will always wonder how Collora got such good costumes on what had to be a limited budget. The Aliens actually looked and moved like the creatures from Alien and Predator films. The ending of Batman: Dead End leaves you wondering if they were hoping for a sequel. Alas we will never know, it has been 7 years since the short came out, but Collora has once again made another small budget quality movie.
As I was saying, I watched Hunter Prey and and the first thoughts were that they were definitaley referencing Star Wars. Growing up with iconic heroes from Star Wars I could understand why Collora would want to emulate the badassery of Boba Fett. Hunter Prey opens with three men dressed in what appears to be a mix of Boba Fett and Clone Trooper costumes stranded in a dessert looking for someone. I won't go into super detail on the plot because it has a few twists. I just wanted to write about how I was impressed with the movie on almost all it had to offer. It is a good homage to those space movies of the 70's and 80's. It reminds me of such movies as Enemy Mine and Star Wars.
Collora uses actual costumes and make-up, what I like and can respect is when a filmmaker can use special effects when needed, not just to show off. Collora is a master and getting amazing looking costumes. The movie is filmed all in a dessert and you know it must have been exhausting to have actors walking around in a huge suits, but that is what low budget films have to accomplish sometimes. When used, which is sparingly, the special effects are well done and move the story along.
Overall Hunter Prey was a surprisingly well done movie. It looks beautiful and you can tell that they really tried to get every penny out of the reported $425,000 budget they had to play with. We could only imagine what Collora would do with a few million. I say give this man some money and let him do his own thing. And if you have the time add this movie to your netflix or ask the local rental place if they have it.
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